Locking device for automotive vehicles and the like



April 8, 1930. G. J, MEUl-:R 1,753,347

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Filed March ll 1924 A TTORNE y Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES' OFFICE GEORGE J. METIER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 CUTLER-HAMMER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Application filed March 1,

This invention relates to locking devices for automotive vehicles and the like, and more particularly to a combined steering gear and ignition lock.

One object of the invention is to 'provide a device as aforecharacterized providing improved correlation of action of the several parts.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character adapted to delay operation of the ignition switch pending given positioning of the steering gear latch.

Another object is to provide means f or maintaining the movable contacts of the ignition switch stationary through apredetermined range of movement of the latch operating means to thereby afford more accurate calibration than has heretofore been possible in such devices.

Another object is to insure locking positioning of the steering gear latch prior to opening of the ignition switch, and to insure unlocking positioning ofthe 'steering gear latchY prior to closing of said switch.

Another object is to provide a device of the aforementioned Vcharacter having parts so arranged that ordinary inaccuracies in manufacture will have little or no eifect upon the calibrated operation thereof. j

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. i

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, i

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' In the drawing the numeral 3 designates a metal casting or othersuitable member for supporting the various parts in cooperative relation. Connected with the member 3 in any suitable manner is a plate 4, said plate extending upwardly at an angle and being F provided with suitable openings .5 and 6 for attachment of said plate to the dashboard or other part of an automobile.

The member 3 is provided with an opening `7 to receive theshaft orcolumn of an aut-oniobile steering gear, said shaft being pro- 1924. Serial No. 696,160.

ing to project the bolt 8 outwardly into a relation to lock the steering shaft against rotation. Outward movement of bolt 8 is limited by means of shaft 14 extending at a iight angle thereto. The inner end of shaftA 14 is cut away to provide a flat face 15 for engagement with the flat face 16 of the enlarged portion of bolt 8. Theengaging faces 15 and 16 provide a cam action, whereby upon counter-clockwise rotation of shaft 14 by means of a suitable handle 17 the bolt 8 will be retracted or withdrawn from locking position against the action of spring 12.

Shaft 14 is provided intermediate the ends thereof with an annular groove 18 and a depression or counterbore 19 adapted to receive a bolt 20. Bolt 20 is adapted to be projected into depression 19 by spring 21 to lock the several parts of the device when the same are in the respective positions illustrated in the drawing, said bolt being provided with a reduced portion 22 to provide a shoulder for engagement with a latch 24 on a lock 25. Upon insertion of the'proper key into opening 26 in lock 25 latch 24 may be rotatedin a counter-clockwise direction to engage bolt 20 and retract the same against the action of spring'21, whereupon shaft 14 may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by handle 17 to retract bolt 8 and thus unlock the steering gear.'

Also intermediate the ends of shaft 14 is a cut-away portion 27 forming cam surfaces 28 and 29, (Fig. 2) surface 29 being provided with a depression or counterbore 30 adapted to receive the end of a rod 31, said end preferably being enlarged as indicated at 32 and having a ball bearing or other suitable antifriction device 33 thereon. Said enlarged end 32 provides a shoulder 34 between which and an abutment 35 of a tubular member 36 a coil spring 37 is mounted. Said member 36 is externally screw-threaded as indicated at 38 and is further provided with a reduced screw-threaded portion 39 adapted to be screwed into a corresponding opening 4() in the memberh3, a plurality of flat faces 41 member 45 which is of U-shape in cross section, said member enclosing an annular coil spring, as shown. A plate member 46 is rigidly connected to the tubular member 36 in any suitable manner, as by spinning LAor. turning the annular projection 47 of the latter over the former. Member 46 is provided with a p a'ir of screw-threaded openings 48 adapted to receive screws 49 ext-ending upwardly from an insulating base 5 an eni closingrand spacing member 5l being interposed between member 46 and base 50. A hollow projection 52 on base 5() provides a stop for limiting the downward movement of annular member 45, while permitting the member 44 to pass thereinto. An insulating plate 53 having an opening therethrough is also providedto limit the upward movement of member 45, said plate being provided with suitable tongues or projections at the opposite ends thereof (not shown) to enter corresponding openings in the walls of spacing member 51` to hold said plate in position.

In its extremel upper position the annular member 45 is adapted tofbrid'ge Contact fingers 54 and55, said contact lingers being connected inthe usual manner to binding posts 56 and 57 ,whereas in its eXtreme lower position the member 45 is adapted to break the circuit between said contact fingers.

The double-conical switch operating means is of the general type disclosed in the patent to C. J. Klein, No. 1,306,852, dated June 17, 1919.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the the parts to bein the respective position illustrated, in which the steering shaft is locked against rotation and the ignition circuit broken; by inserting a key in the lock 25 andturning the same in acounter-clockwise direction bolt 2O will be retracted, whereupon shaft 14 may also be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to retractbolt 8 against the action ofvspri'ng 12 and thus permit free movement of the steering shaft'. Rotation of shaft 14 also effects depression of rod 31 against the action of spring 37, the arrangement of cam surface 28 beingsuch that upon substantially complete retraction of bolt 8 the ridge or peak 44a passes beyond the longitudinal center of the coil spring within member 45 and the latter snaps into engagement with contact lingers 54 and 55 to close the ignition circuit.

To again lock the steering shaft and break the ignition circuit shaft 14 is rotated by means of handle 17 towardthe positionl-shown in the drawing, cam surface 28 permitting gradual upward movement of rod 31 by spring 37. Gam surface 29 then permits further upward movement V of said rod, and as the depression 30 comes into register with ball bearing 33 the ridge or peak 44a is carried upwardly beyond the longitudinal center of the spring within member 45, and the latter rides downwardly over the lower cone member 44 out of engagement with vcontact fingers 54 and 55 to opentheignition circuit. At the same time' bolt 20 is automatica-lly projected into depression 19 to lo'clA the ,several` parts against reverse movement'.

By the arrangement aforedescribedf have provided a combined lock for' the steering shaft and ignition switch wherein a definite sequence and time relation of theseveralflocking andl unlocking operations is insured. Thus the ignition circuit will not bev broken until shaft 14 has been turned to substantially the position illustrated', thereby tending to insure locking of the steering shaft upon'loclting'of the ignition switch in operi position. The cam operating means for the ignition switch provides for givenv amount of vInovement ofv shaftv 14 during ,locking or unlocking of the steering shaft' without aifecting the position of said switch, thus compensating for inaccuracies in manufacture' which wcu'ld otherwis'eaffect the `calibration'of the" several parts with respect to each other. lAfswill be apparent, the cam surfaces 28 and' 29 may he so formed as to effect opening or closingv of the ignition circuit atr anyde'siredpoint with respect to the operation of unlocking or locking" the steering shaft. Moreover", the' 'cam surface 28 may lead directlyV to the counterbore 30, thus obviatin'gthze necessity of providing the cam surface 29. l

Inv practice a' spring-projectedwmaniiallyrelea'sable latch may be pro'vded'for engagement with suitable Vmeansonth'e shaft' 14 to hold the same in the desired position upon completion of the counter-clockwise Inlovement. y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenti's: M Y

1. The combination with a latch" movable into Vand out of'lo'ckingengagement with a steering'V column, of a switch 'adapted upon given movement of a part thereof in opposite directions respectively to makeY and break 'an ignition circuit, said make vand lire'alv being effected with a snap action`,yandcohmnop erating means for said latch and 'sai'd ,switch comprising a member havi'ng'a p'hirality of cam surfaces -adapted upon giveninovement thereof to effect proportionate moreinent'of said latch and disproportionate movement of said switch part, said movements of said parts being correlated to insure locking positioning of said latch prior to breaking of said ignition circuit.

2. The combination with a latch movable into and out of locking position with respect to an automobile steering column of an ignition switch adapted to snap into and out of circuit making position, and common operat ing means including a plurality of cam surfaces for effecting movement of said switch out of circuit making position only upon sub stantially full locking positioning of said latch and for effecting movement of said switch to circuit making position only upon substantially full unlocking positioning of said latch.

3. The combination with a latch movable into and out of locking position with respect to a steering column, of a switch for the ignition circuit adapted to snap into and out of circuit making position, common operating means for said latch and said switch ar ranged to effect a relatively large movement of said latch prior to operation of said switch while insuring operation of said latch and switch in predetermined sequence, said means including a member having cam surfaces for engagement with said latch and said switch, and automatically operable locking means for said latch.

4. The combination with a switch movable to circuit making and breaking positions with a snap action upon predetermined movement of an element thereof in opposite directions respectively, and operating means therefor comprising a member having a cam surface adapted upon movement thereof at a uniform rate to effect a non-uniform rate of movement of said element.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE J. MEUER. 

